Spectacles With Embedded Segmented Display Comprising Light Guide End

Abstract

An optical device, such as spectacles or goggles, has a segmented display (3) formed in a transparent substrate by directing light from a number of light sources (15) through respective light guides (14) and reflecting the light out of the transparent substrate at the ends of the light guides (14) to form individually illuminable segments (13). The device has the advantage that an electronically-generated display can be displayed to a viewer in combination with the image transmitted through the transparent substrate simply and relatively inexpensively.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an optical device, in particular to an optical device for displaying information in the field of vision of a viewer. The invention is of particular application to head-mounted imaging devices, such as eyeglasses, goggles, or masks, in which information is incorporated into the image viewed by the wearer by a display device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Systems are known for combining an electronically-generated display with the image viewed by the wearer of eyeglasses or goggles. Such systems fall into three main areas: ‘see through’ displays, in which the displayed image is combined with the background image; ‘see around’ displays, in which the displayed image blocks some of the background image; and ‘fully blocking’ displays, in which none of the background image is visible. Existing designs are often bulky and heavy and most have optical components that protrude from the eyewear lens, obscure part of the user's visio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The invention extends to eyewear comprising an optical device according to the invention. The eyewear may be spectacles, goggles, helmets, masks. The goggles may be intended for swimming, diving, skiing, flying, etc. It is a particular advantage of the invention that the optical device is very easily made waterproof. Applications for this technology are envisaged for eyewear in many areas e.g. sports (including under-water sports), security and safety, emergency services, military, medical, fashion, entertainment etc. Examples of non-eyewear applications could include viewing lens on cameras, camcorders etc. vehicle windscreens or other optical and scientific instruments.

[0016]One application area for this invention is to display information to a wearer of head-mounted eyewear in a convenient head-up display that does not distract the user from the activity that they are engaged in. For example, in sports sunglasses or swimming goggles, the display of real or elapsed time or heart rate, distance traveled, etc.

Problems solved by technology

Existing designs are often bulky and heavy and most have optical components that protrude from the eyewear lens, obscure part of the user's vision and are susceptible to damage.

However, this system has the disadvantage that the refractive optics must be constructed very accurately in order that the image presented to the user is not distorted and the user can read the display.

The required accuracy of the optics can lead to the thickness of the main lens becoming unacceptably large.

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